Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerA federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by several Newark police officers who said they were demoted because they supported a political rival of Mayor Cory Booker.

NEWARK — A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by several Newark police officers who said they were demoted because they supported a political rival of Mayor Cory Booker.

The decision filed Thursday found the officers didn't provide adequate evidence that their assignments were changed because of their support of Clifford Minor. Minor ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Booker in 2010.

Claims against former Police Director Garry McCarthy also were dismissed.

The lawsuit claimed officers Rasheen Peppers, Darnell Henry, Joseph Hadley, Kevin Lassiter and Vincent Cordi were told by Booker subordinates they were transferred because of their affiliation with Minor.

Peppers, Henry, Hadley and Lassiter said they relinquished their detective badges when they were reassigned.

An attorney for the officers didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.